Case method of handling eggs



Dec; '19, 1944. K. c. FERGUSON CASE METHOD OF-HANDLING EGGS shets-sheet 1 Filed April 24, 1943 Dec. 19', 1944.

K. c. FERGUSON CASE METHOD OF HANDLING EGGS Filed April 24, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 19, 1944 CASE METHOD F HANDLING EGGS Kenneth C. Ferguson, Indianapolis, Ind., v assignor to Inland Container Corporation,'Indianapolis, Ind.

Application April 24, 1943, Serial No. 484,333

4 claims. (c1.- 99-177) This invention relates to an egg case structure and a method of handling eggs which includes utilizing the lseveral parts of said structure.

One chief object of this invention is to provide an egg case structure thatat will can readily be changed from Ventilating to non-Ventilating type and that will permit of egg sampling for grading purposes, all without the necessity of individually removing eggs, all as more fully recited hereinafter. j

Another chief object of this invention is to provide an egg case structure that will permit eggs to be readily packed and unpacked and vice versa, for inspection and candling purposes, without requiring the use of another or transfer case, so that the original case, from the source of supply to the ultimate vendor can be used with the same eggs.

The chief feature of the present invention includes a'structure adapted for egg handlingalthough not necessarily restricted thereto, whereby each of the aforesaid objects may be accomplished. v

Other objects and features of the invention will be set forth more fully hereinafter.

Since for a complete understanding of the several processes included herein, it is necessary to describe the several instrumentalities necessary to practice lsaid processes, and since this in- -vention also is directed-to the structure per se, it seems desirable to herein initially describe the 1structure and then to describe the use thereof, and, accordingly, this orderly sequencev will be followed.

Fig. 5 is a similar View of the blank for forming,

the cover. f

Fig. 6 is a similar View of the blank for forming the liner and partition member.

Fig. 7 is a combined section and perspective View of a preferred form of cover lock applied to a covered case, dotted lines indicating a second lock position.`

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the locking member.

f Reference will first be had to Fig. 4 and Figs-1 and 2 for the case proper. In the former, I0 indicates a bottom and I II opposite sides integral therewith at the coextensive crease-l2 and erectible transverse thereto, as shown in Fig. 2. Each side includes a regularly spaced V-arranged'series of Ventilating apertures I3.

- Integral with bottom I Il at each end and erectible transverse thereto at similar creases I4 are The full nature of the invention will be undery stood from the accompanying drawings and the following description and claims:`

In the drawings, 5 Fig. 1 is a central longitudinal section through at least half of a covered egg case structure made a case structure, the cover being-removed and the eggs, egg flats, etc.-y similarly being omitted, the corrugated liner being shown in plan.

Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal section (nearly half'size) of one end of the case cover. y

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the blank for forming thec'ase proper'.

the outer end walls I5. Integral therewith is the materially'shorter inside end wall flap I5, saine being end united bythe wider, bearing forming, crease portion I'I. The outer end wall I6, centrally and adjacent the top, includes a U-shaped slit I8 and a connecting creasev I9 and parallel crease 20 included in the D-shaped tongue 2I formed by the slit I8 andy crease I9v and hinged to the end wall I5 at I9. Preferably the free end I6a (lower edge) of flap I6 terminates substantially in the plane of the top surface of the resulting hand hole 22, see Figs. 1 and 2.

Each side wall II at the side edgehas integralv therewith a supplementary end wall forming portion 23 and lconnected to the side wall by a similar crease 24. Each portion 23 is substantially of side wall height in heighth and of end wall width in width. These portions are erectible at right angles to thesides II and bottom I0, sc. that when lapped and end I5 is brought upward, the sides II then being parallel, there is formed an end wall of three thicknesses as shown in Figs. l and 2.

Initial retention in this formation is effected nyturning the hand hole forming tongue 2I inwar'dly through opening 22in end wall I5 and through the registering openings 25 in the portions 23. After this is effected, the free end oi tongue 2| is turned upwardly inside of the inner- `oositioned portion 23.

Figs. land 2. As stated, this is initial retention. -In this connection it is observed the width across the end'wall of flap I6 is such that preferably the sideedges IGb of the ap I6 havek frictional engagement with the confronting faces of sidewalls I I.

Thereafter the flap I6 `is turned downwardly and inwardly as shown in present form, see Fig. 4, is only about 121/2 squareAk feet of board and the actual blank was-tagada less than one square foot for a thirty dozen egg case, whereas in the four wall case Llil/l square`- feet or more blankis required:VA andJ theA blank to box loss is about 4 square feet, instead of but one square foot. quired and the illustrated form wastes less boardv even from a smaller blank.

Reference will now be had to Fig. 6 andFigs.

1 and 2 andY initially to the former wherein-a single blank includesA in. sequentially. connected relation by creasesA certain.' wall portions ofV a liner. or. shell. Herein Wall'SD.. is connectedby crease 3I to wal1f32 in turnconnected by` crease 33 to wall 34 in turn. connected by crease. 35. to Wall 36 in turnconnected by crease. 311. to connecting flap 38. The upper` seriesis duplicated and bothY series have the confronting edges-of portions only united by acrease 39 thatis slightlyA wider than creases 3l, 33; 35 or; 3-1. Crease 39, of'necessity, is directed-oppositely to the, aforementioned like. directed creases 3 I, .i 33, 35.and 31. u

Portion 38lapsportiori 30-oftl1esame.-series and is suitably secured thereto. invthatrelation by. vany suitable. means, such. as staples` or:v by adhesive, or. by tape; W- hen -so.secured.-tWo-, con:- nectedtubes are xforinedA connected by portion 3S only. vWhen these tubesare positioned side'by side as in Figs. 1.v and2, observevethatthefcom nections A38 are nested between the tubesfand portion.39.. iorms'a comparatively widel upper bearf ing midway. of the case.z

Each-tube incertain of the=walisas illustrated in Figs. Land.is-provided With'a regular Aspaced diagonal seriesvofventilatingfapertures 40.', These areeslightlylarger, see Fig, l, than apertures; I3 in the-V- case f wall l l. When` the r tubes s are `posi-- tioned side=by side theapertures 49: inf wallsSB are in V--arrangernent,.seel Fig. l, and thefsame appliestothe aperturesfMfinwalls 32and'1not illustrated in-Fig;..ls Furthermore. asfillustrated in Fig'.- 1, ,when the-liner' tubesare,y nested'iin ith'e case apertures`A I3 and. 4th register, hencef the case Vstructure `is'kof Ventilatingcharacter; When the doubletube liner; is; turnedf end: for: end (notinverted) apertures dll-.fdofnotiregister with apertures I3: and anon-Ventilating caseiresults; Difference' in aperture: size. isf to insure: positive registration.

The farmen, etc. under; ideali or" preferred handling conditions. collectsitheA eggs;.l.=.tsl them cool,.then candles and grades saine,y ifi' desired, following which thefmarketable eggs-aref placed in the. case withtheeincluded linersf utilizing'. the cellular; divisione structures;` eggs pad`sv= and/or atss-as. is-:eustomary in .a wooden case. Now Aun"- til theeggsf are placed in coldlstorage, they are held.in;a non-ventlatingcase; However; while in cold storage'ventilation ishighly desired; so the eggs andI liners are reversed forU aperture registration;v Which-may be@ affectedi by opera-1- tions subsequently to Lbe' described'.L

Thus -f less. board a is.` reeA .q

In this connection, relative to the case proper, observe that the liner forms a fourth end wall, as it were, double side walls and a double Wall partition that braces the side walls against inward collapse and egg breaking and a U-shaped sectioned vertical support for the middle of the' cover shortly to be described. Furthermore, rthis liner bears against ap I6 and holds same in position so thatlthe case proper requires no connections, such as stitching, taping and the like, nor a fourth end wall for case locking purpose.

In the case illustrated herein, or the four end wallcasaeach be liner equipped and the same cover (to be described) be used with each, the

-. boardffrequiredforlthe former complete case illusytreated@islbut 2li/square feet, whereas the four end walllmodication requires 28 square feet of board withoutv any material advantage being gained.

Reference will now be had to Figs. l, 3 and 5 andl especially the last. mentioned.whereinr one form of -cover. blank includes.-y a. top 45, .two skirt forming sidesv 46"A integral 'therewith at; longitudinally coextensive, creases .47.. Connectedby crease 48. to each endnf top. 45..is the. outside .skirt.frm. ing. end. 49. Connected thereto. by. creaseA 5l)Y is inside endskirt 5l.

Connected to-the. side. edges of'each sdeA'G by4 a crease 52l is a flap. 53. Thefieevedgesil thereof, when the flaps 53 are turned. angularly of the. top and sidesandA nestedlbetweenend forming, portions 49-5I,.are. spaced apart preferably atleast the distanceapart'that. thehand hole is in width. So far as thepresent..cover.is concerned, howeven. this length can be.. any amount less than half the. lengthofend portions :t9-5l.

The top 45, see Figs. l, 3 and.` 5', adjacent creasev 48 includes a parallelseries of slots-:54.

The free edge 5Ia,of the inner` skirt` end 5I` includes'. tongues Sib which` extendfinto slots.l 54 to..lo.ck the. rimorfskirtforming. portions-f 46-49 togetherso that a stapless, stitchless,. glueless and tapeless rimmed cover is obtained thati can telescope. the top of. the case. Basically; this cover is similar to that discloseddn-the copending allowed application.- SerialfNo. 415,993, led,l Octoberv 22,.,1941, W Patent No. 2,319,924-dated Mayy2`5, ,1943, a division of application Serial eNo. 329,438, filed, AprillB, 1940i, and now-Eatent-No. 2,299,812, dated- October 27 1942"..

Whenever desiredA herein the*z depth ofJ this skirt: iii- 49` can be such =thatiit terminates below the base of the hand holes in the case'andlin that event-1 each skirt and portion; would` have registering handy holes thereini. and, ,if desired, the stock forming*v the-hand hole-ir-iithe outer skirt end may be turned inwardlygzas illustrated herein' for tongue -2I` of the' caseandfs'eat inthe case hand. holes." or as? showrr broadly! in l Fig.- 1 of the copending.eggY c'ase. application' SerialiNo. 475,892, iledrFebruary: 15; l9l43,-Fig;` Kthereof illustrating'whyfflaps r 53ki herein,y ir'iltlie 'last cl-y scribed modificationl must? terminatein app'ref ciably `spaced relation or= be-cutout for hand hole clearan'ce'purpose. Such a' modified' cover lias all v-tlie'f advantages ofr the' coverf structure-re-A cited and claimed in the aforesaideggcaseicoe pendingy application.-

The egg'fiats, cushion pads, ifi'usedj and' intearsecting-` intereloeking individual cell forming partitions; wellknownin the-industry; arelriot illustrated inFi'gs; land 2 for clearness;` Most ats have egg centralizingportions andtl'ie partitions seat therebetween. A's a.' resultatiefof vention is as follows:

scoped upon and removed 'from the two tiers of eggs and at will providing the cover or case be removed. Note when the cover vis removed the tubes can be drawn out of the case, andv when the entire structure is inverted and the case removed, the tubes and the tiers then rest upon the cover and when the tubes are removed the eggs are more completelyrexposed for inspection than heretofore. These tubes also prevent hand contactfwith and consequent eggV breaking at the hand holes in the handling of the box.-

The foregoing also immediately suggests the desirability of inspection of the top and bottom layers Of-the eggs for grading thereof for size and clearness;

One method of handling eggs with this in- The egg producer or local collector, after collecting or purchasing the eggs, candles same. The cooled, selected eggs are -placed in the case including the liner, the `then (and normal) bottom pad or at and with the lower cellular form thereon. When one layer is lled another at is applied, vtogether witha second superposed cellular form andthe latter is then filled.

`the cover is applied. The filled cases are then 40 collected and delivered to larger collecting agencies. The latter can grade the eggs by sampling as follows: The cover is removed and the top layer of eggs exposed and examined. The cover, etc., is then replaced and the case inverted.` Then the case is removed as Well as the bottom cushion members, which thereupon expose the bottom .layer of eggs for similar examination, the tubular portion having sufficient strength to retain the tiers of eggs on the cover. If intermediate layer inspection is desired the i tubes can be removed carefully, the intermediate layer marginal eggs inspected and then the tubes are replaced. Then the case, etc., is reapplied, the case inverted and the case is ready Vfor shipment to the storage facilities where the 'same examination, as well as individual candling may be perfo'ned. However, for reasons assigned the case is now reversely applied so that the case and tubes are of Ventilating type preferred for cold storage purposes. End for end reversal of the case insures same.

Another desirable method is a, preliminary operation as follows: The tubes are placed on the cover and the egg producer fills the subsequent top layers of the tiers and the subsef quent tiers until the tubes are filled. Then the case, in inverted relation, is applied `and the covered case inverted. The following advantage thereupon results. The rst eggscollected by the egg producer are the eggs first sold at the country store and the last eggs collected are last sold. This is just the reverse of the present practice. Hence, the eggs sold from a case packed as herein described are of substantially the same degree of freshness, and not of varying degrees thereof as is the present practice.

Another advantage of the present invention is that should a paper board shortage occur, covers and tubes with cellular partitions,.pads and flats can be supplied egg producers and when collected by the route wagons, the route collector would merely applyhis own case thereto, invert and place same in his collection ve` hicle. Since many small egg producers require a week to fill a case, the foregoing does not requirethat all producers each have a case for a week, but needv only be supplied with the other parts mentioned.

, This egg case structure readily lends itself to a radically different basic method of handling eggs and same, as pointed out herein, is capable of several highly desirable variations thereof. The present invention also is peculiarly adaptable for use inl the sterilizing or processing of the eggs. Eggs so vtreated essentially are subject-g ed to a `bath of hot oil for sterilization and sealing shell pores and will keep about sixty days without refrigeration. In this treatment it is necessary with wooden cases, for expeditious handling, to have one side thereof removable for egg transfer tothe metal tray used for dipping the eggs in the hot` bath.

The smoothness of the present case and its ease of removal from the tier of eggs and its ease of reapplication thereto, accordingly, readily lends itself to the aforesaid `process and without necessitating the'use of special cases.

-No mention yet has been made of the cover locking feature specifically disclosed herein. Hereinbefore in a described modification, a cover locking feature was pointed out, see also copend.

ing egg case application Serial No. 475,892, led

February 15, 1943. l

` One method for cover locking includes the elongated slot 60 intermediate the slots 54 in end 45 adjacent crease d8, but spaced therefrom slightly more distant than slots 54 are spaced therefrom. y l l Agenerally U-shaped locking member, see Fig. 8,'inc1udes upper portion 6I slightly less in length than the length of slot'60. Two legs 62 terminate' at their lower ends in upwardly directed parallel portions 63. Portions 62 lie inside of ilap I6, as shown in Fig. '7, and project upwardly through slot 66 in cover top 115. The upwardly directed endsl 63 may be seated in the corrugations exposed at the free edge Ita of flap i6, or preferably may be positioned between tongue 2| and flap I6 and bear on facial edge IBa. The cross bar por` tion 6| and leg portions 62 projecting above cover top 45 may be bent, as shown by full lines in Fig. '7, or oppositely, asV shown dotted therein. In this manner the cover is locked to the case for the locking member is manually bendable to that extent, This locking member may be applied to the case prior to cover application or subsequent thereto. Y If applied prior to cover application, the portion shown lapping the cover in Fig. 7 extends straight up and passes through slot 6D upon cover mounting. If applied after the cover is mounted.,A the lock structure shown is passed downwardly through slot 60 until the ends 63a lie below the free edge Ilia. Then the portions 63 are moved by this drawing un step,x the cover exposedl portionsare-bent angularly to parallel and bear 4upon the .cover as'shown in Fig. 7 by dottedy oriull lines.

Note that the liner tubes retain the loc-k .against flap |6,.so that the preferred method of mounting .the lock is to vapply same to the case before the liners, etc., and cover are applied thereto, in other Words the first method'.

Itis pointed out that when it is desired to further reenforce either the case ends or .the partition (liner adjacent Walls oi' the tubes) or both, a. panel of case depth and width and of. suitable material may be interposed in the end Wall or between the partition Walla Such panel might be of solid libre board or Wood. veneer. With wood veneer the .grain Would run up and down the depth of the case. When .a double bottom and additional reen-forced end is desired, a U- shaped blank .of bottom length plus two end lengths .and .of case end or bottom width may be included. Of course, each end blank or the end portions of the U-shaped reeniorcement are suitably apertured, the aperturing registering with the end Wall han-d hole. The foregoing is believed Ia sufficient disclosure so that an ill-ustration thereof is not believed necessary.

The aforesaid tubular liner has been described as bracing the middle of the sides against inward collapse as well as' serving as a cover bearing. Furthermore, the tube sides, being parallel tothe casesi-des and tied together by the case partition formation of the tubes, prevents outward bulging ofsaid case sides. When desired the liner blank may include at opposite sides, see dotted. lines, Fig. 5, half flaps |00. When eight are provided, each of supporting wall length and halfr that in width,- the resulting tubes at the bottoni have in effect a. double thickness bottom and this with the single thickness case bottom, provides a total triple thickness bottom. When alternate Walls only .of .the tubes include such flaps -l00, the total bottomis of but double thickness.`

f course, ifthe. U-shaped insert mentioned hereinbefore also be employed, the case .has sti-1l another thickness at the ends and at the bottom. The liner flaps |00, aforesaid, do not in anyway interfere `with the use of the case structure as previously described, except when inverted :and the case removed, the flaps, then upprmost naturally would be elevated to expose the top (previous bottom) layer of eggs `for inspection.

The case structure, as obvious from. the fore-v going, can `bercollapsed .to knock dow-n lform for. returnf-rom storage, etc.,.so that a great saving in space in return shipment-is'possible and this inno way detracts from the use of the case, be.- cause in theeld samecan be readily erected, fol' it requiresno stitching, stapling, etc.

A `fur-ther advantage is that should .the (1a-se proper wear out, due to transportation hazards, nevertheless the liner and possibly the covers. would be still serviceable. Also,isince the case proper need not be used bythe farmer, his wear thereof is naturally eliminated. Hence, longer life of `the entire structure, or the several parts is obtained with the attendant economics resul-tllo herefrom is-included* andy claimed in the continuation-in--part application, Serial No. 508,505, iiled November l, 1943.

` While the inventionl has been illustrated and described in great detail in the drawings and fioregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character.

The. several modiicationsi described herein as Well as others which will readily suggest themselves to persons skilled in this art, all are considered to be-Within the broad scope of the invention, reference being had to the appended claims.

The invention claimed is:

l. A methodV of handling eggs utilizing a covered case structure including tubular liner means in which isincluded in tier formation layer spacers and individual egg forming partitions between the spacers, a case in which the liner means can be telescopically mounted, and a case cover detachably connected thereto, including sampling eggsat the top and bottom of the casepstructure by-inspecting the top layer of eggs with the cover removed, when the eggs a-re case supported, and inspecting the bottom laver of eggs by removing the case'- trom the cover while theillfled case is in inverted position.

2. A method as deiined by claim l'wherein following -bottom inspection, intermediate egg layer marginal .egg inspection is effected by removing the liner means from the tier arranged cover supported eggs for marginal exposition of eggs.

3-. A method of handling eggs utilizing a covered case structure including tubular liner means in which is` included in tier formation layer spacers and individual egg forming partitions between the` spacers, a case in which the liner means can be telescopically mounted, and a. case cover de'- tachably connected thereto, the case in certain of its walls having Ventilating apertures there- '40 through and the tubular liner mea-ns having similar apertures therethrough, the apertures in each having predetermined positioning, including lilling a liner means including case- With eggs and with the several Ventilating apertures in non-registering relation for n'on-ventilationl of the case, then inverting the case structure and removing the case proper from the cover and cover sup'- ported l'i-ner means and 4included eggs, and' then reapplying the' case thereto in reversed relation to register the several apertures for ventilation through `the case when subjected to refrigerated storage conditions.

#LA method of handling eggs utilizing a coveredcase structure including tubular'liner means in- Which is included in tier formation layer spacers and individual egg forming partitions between thespacers, a case in vvhichthe liner means KENNETH C.. FERGUSON. 

